Weak opening for Code Talker movie

MONDAY, JUNE 17, 2002

Windtalkers, the MGM movie which features the Navajo Code Talkers who served during World War II, placed a distant third at the box office this weekend.

The movie took in $14.5 million in estimated ticket sales, putting it well behind Scooby-Doo, with $56.4 million, and The Bourne Identity, with $27.5 million. All three movies debuted Friday.

Navajo moviegoers who gathered for a showing in Alaska, found the story exicting. The Anchorage Daily News trailed them to a local theater, where they "appeared to get more out of it than many other people in the audience."

Final box office returns are due today.

Get the Story:
Mother tries to save Navajo heritage (The Las Vegas Review-Journal 6/17)
'Scooby-Doo' Debuts at No. 1 (AP 6/16)
'Scooby-Doo' Snacks on $56 Million at Box Office (Reuters 6/16)
'Windtalkers' (The Anchorage Daily News 6/16)

Relevant Links:
Windtalkers - http://www.mgm.com/windtalkers

Related Stories:
Windtalkers movie opens nationwide (6/14)
Comanche man was Code Talker too (6/13)
Code Talker movie set for debuts (6/12)
Code Talkers movie premieres (6/5)
Code Talker movie features first-timer (5/13)
Code Talkers receive special medal (5/2)
Code Talkers upset with Begaye (3/25)
Code Talker gets his medal (3/11)
Code Talker day set (3/8)
Navajo Code Talker gets own day (3/4)
Code Talker to get his medal (2/26)
Paper blasts Navajo Nation (2/22)
Code Talker still doesn't have medal (2/19)
Navajo man confirmed as Code Talker (2/11)
Navajo man recognized as Code Talker (2/7)
Code Talkers on display in Ariz. (1/18)
Ceremony honors Code Talkers (12/10)
Navajo Code Talkers given awards (11/26)
Code Talkers honored at S.D. powwow (10/15)
Code Talker movie delayed (10/2)
Code Talker ceremony postponed (10/1)
N.M. honors Code Talker (9/13)
Code Talkers honored for contributions (7/27)
'Windtalkers' splashes onto DC scene (7/27)
In The Hoop: Navajo Code Talker Pics (7/27)
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